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Introduction
It is a common knowledge that exercise is good for the health. However, only a people few exercises regularly. The National Center for Health Statistics in the United States, for instance, reports that barely half or only 49% of the adult population meets the standard guidelines for aerobic exercise while only 20.9% are meeting the guidelines for aerobic and muscle strengthening exercise (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). With almost 80% of adults not getting the recommended exercise, health experts are becoming increasingly worried about its impact to the health and well-being of individuals and society as a whole. It is, for instance, widely recognized that exercise improves one’s health and reduces the risk of acquiring chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Even so, only a few people engage in exercise most likely because they are not fully informed about its value. Others, on the other hand, are too busy to fit exercise into their schedules. There are also those who are too absorbed in non-physical recreational activities, such as watching tv, computer gaming, reading and similar activities. It is, however, important to encourage individuals to exercise because exercise does not only improve their well-being, but the of exercise places them at risk of many life-threatening diseases.
What is Exercise?
Exercise and physical activity are often used interchangeably. Understandably so because both activities involve bodily movements. However, in a more specific sense, exercise differs from physical activity in the context that exercise is more complex. Exercise, for instance, does not only refer to any skeletal and muscular movement, but is consciously done to improve physical fitness and health. Exercise can be differentiated from physical activity in the sense that it is “planned, structured, repetitive, and purposive in the sense that improvement or maintenance of one or more components of physical fitness is an objective” (Caspersen, Powell, and Christenson 128). The World Health Organization recommends that adults aged 18 to 64 years old should have, at least, “150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity” (World Health Organization). However, as statistics suggest, only 20% meets this criteria while the rest are leading unhealthy lifestyles (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
Health Benefits of Exercise
It is a widespread belief that exercise improves health and well-being, however, it is poorly understood how it does so. Several things happen to the body and the mind during and after exercise, which experts believe, are the reason why exercise is beneficial for one’s health. The benefits of exercise can be broadly categorized into three areas: the physical, the mental or psychological and the social outcomes.
Physical Outcomes
The physical benefits of exercise have already been well-established. For one, exercise helps develop physical integrity, particularly the skeletal and muscular systems of the body. Individuals who exercise are observed to have higher bone density, which makes them less prone to skeletal diseases such as osteoporosis. This improved bone and muscular structure also results to greater mobility and better posture. Exercise also improves blood circulation, which helps nutrients reach the extremities of the body as well as helps remove toxins from the body. For the same reason, exercise helps rejuvenate body organs and make them function in their optimal capacity. Exercise also helps improve the body’s metabolism by burning away excess fats. For the same reason, exercise prevents obesity and diabetes; diseases that are commonly associated with lack of physical activity and exercise.
Psychological Outcomes
Health experts are convinced that exercise helps improve an individual’s mental health. Scholars, for instance, observed that individuals who are engaged in sports and other types of physical activity are less prone to depression and anxiety (Coalter 12). Moreover, individuals who are engaged in exercise are observed to have a positive self-image and have higher self-esteem (Coalter 12). On the contrary, individuals who are not getting adequate exercise are observed to be more prone to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression and have less self-esteem as compared to those who regularly exercise (Coalter 12). The obvious reason for the improved mental state resulting from exercise can be attributed to the body’s physical appearance. As the body’s physical appearance improves, so is the self-confidence and self-esteem of the individual improves. Scientific evidence also suggests that exercise improves the individual’s emotional state as it facilitates the release of neurotransmitters that can affect emotion, perception and sensory-motor mechanisms (Meeusen and De Meirleir). One of these neurotransmitter is endorphin, a chemical associated with the feelings of pleasure and happiness. Exercise is also observed to increase the hippocampus region, which improves learning and memory (Kaur and Vashisht 236). These positive impacts of exercise to mental health makes such activity a recommended therapy for individuals suffering from psychological disorders including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, catatonia and even sexual disorders (Kaur and Vashisht 237).
Social Outcomes
The positive social outcome of exercise can be attributed to its over-all positive impact on the physical and mental health of an individual. Individuals who exercise regularly, for instance, are observed to be more sociable and less prone to anti-social behavior as compared to those who lacks exercise (Coalter 6). Physical fitness must be one of the major reasons why individuals who exercise are more sociable as it enables them to become socially active. Moreover, since exercise improves emotional and mental health, those who exercise must be able to interact socially out of their stress-free and cheerful disposition.
Dangers of Not Getting Proper Exercise
Exercise is an essential element in the over-all improvement of an individual’s quality of life. For those who truly understand the value of exercise, such activity is necessary and non-negotiable. The lack of exercise, for instance, is associated with major health issues. Chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes are directly related to exercise or the lack thereof. A person who does not exercise is also neglecting his health by making himself prone to life-threatening illnesses such as hypertension, cardiovascular problems and stroke. Studies have shown that the risk of dying from a heart problem for those who exercise are 35% lower than those who are not getting enough physical activity (Warburton, Nicol, and Bredin 801). Even more interesting is the findings that the risk of having heart-related problems decreases directly with the level of physical activity, which means that the more active a person is, the less prone he or she is from acquiring cardiovascular diseases (Warburton, Nicol, and Bredin 803). Research evidence also suggests that exercise reduces the risks of cancers, particularly colon and breast cancers (Warburton, Nicol, and Bredin 803). It can also be observed that those people who do not have adequate exercise diverts their attention towards unhealthy activities. Among the most common reasons for lack of exercise is engagement in non-physical activities such as reading or watching the television. The advent of modern computing technologies has also placed many people at risk of not getting proper exercise. Many young people in contemporary society, for instance, are observed to be increasingly engaged in computer games than in physical activities. These modern lifestyle trends make most people become less interested in exercise; exposing themselves to a plethora of health problems.
Conclusion
In order to encourage individuals to exercise, it is necessary not only to promote its benefits, but also the dangers of not getting it. By contrast, exercise improves the health and quality of life of an individual while the health and quality of life of those who refuse to exercise deteriorates. Most people believe that exercise is good for their health, but only a few are practicing it. The reason for the lack of interest in exercise could not be exactly determined, but it is most likely influenced by factors such as busy schedules, engagement in non-physical activities and lack of awareness regarding the value of exercise. The importance of exercise, however, could not be undermined as it encompasses the physical, mental and social well-being of an individual. As determined by many research studies, exercise improves the physical integrity of an individual and makes him less prone to many diseases. It also improves his psychological and mental faculties by facilitating the neurotransmitter functions of the brain. Exercise also improves the individual’s social life, which is a direct result of living a healthy lifestyle. In effect, an individual who gets adequate exercise experiences better quality of life as compared to those who do not exercise.
Works Cited
Caspersen, Carl J., Kenneth E. Powell, and Gregory M. Christenson. “Physical Activity, Exercise, and Physical Fitness: Definitions and Distinctions for Health-Related Research.” Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Exercise or Physical Activity.” 2016. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
Coalter, F. “The Social Benefits of Sport.” 2005. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
Kaur, Jasvinder, and Ayush Vashisht. “Exercise and Mental Health.” 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
Meeusen, R, and K De Meirleir. “Exercise and Brain Neurotransmission.” 1995. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
Warburton, D, C.W. Nicol, and S Bredin. “Health Benefits of Physical Activity: The Evidence.” 2006. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
World Health Organization. “Global Recommendation on Physical Activity for Health.” 2010. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.
